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Tag: Chris Giwa

  • Giwa-led NFF illegal – Reps committee

    Giwa-led NFF illegal – Reps committee

    The House of Representatives Committee on Sports Wednesday declared the Chris Giwa-led Nigerian Football Federation as illegal.

    In a statement signed by Chairman of the Committee, Godfrey Gaya, the lawmakers, urged the NFF Congress “to meet soonest to decide a new road map and schedule an election that will allow all eligible Nigerians to participate freely and fairly.”

    This, according to the committee, “will usher in fresh air and sanity into the Nigeria Football House.”

    The Committee after a three-day consultation with the warring parties including the Minister of Sports, declared that “the agenda for Congress of August 26, 2014 was not elective as attested to by notice of NFF General Assembly issued by the General Secretary.

    “Since the August 26, 2014 Congress did not conform to NFF Statute/Regulation, the Committee urges all interested parties to have recourse to the advice contained in FIFA letter of September  3, 2014,” the statement said.

    FIFA had in the letter directed Giwa and other purportedly elected officials of the federation to vacate the Glass House latest on September 8 or the federation will be suspended.

     

  • NFF crisis: Nigeria gets FIFA’s September 8 deadline

    NFF crisis: Nigeria gets FIFA’s September 8 deadline

    The world football governing body, FIFA, has given a September 8 deadline for the Nigeria Football Federation to resolve its crisis or be suspended from international football.

    FIFA in a letter sent to the NFF on Wednesday said Nigeria would be suspended with immediate effect if the factional president of the federation, Chris Giwa and other purportedly elected officials of the body refuse to vacate the Glass House at the expiration of the deadline.

    The statement reads:  “Following the decision by the FIFA Emergency Committee, FIFA has today, September 3, 2014, sent a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation confirming that the NFF will be suspended with immediate effect should there still be persons claiming to have been elected to NFF positions on August 26, 2014 and occupying their offices on Monday, September 8, 2014 at 08.00 (Central European Time).

    “The decision follows events linked to the NFF general assembly held on August 26, 2014. While the said general assembly was duly convened by the NFF Executive Committee to adopt a new roadmap leading to the NFF elections, some members proceeded to hold elections in the absence of the NFF President, who was arrested by security forces for questioning.

    “In a letter sent on August 29, 2014, FIFA confirmed that it would not recognise the results of the aforementioned elections and that the matter would be brought to the respective FIFA bodies should there still be persons claiming to have been elected and occupying the NFF offices at midnight on September 1, 2014. On expiry of the deadline, some people were still claiming to have been elected and were occupying the NFF premises.”

  • Giwa warns against NFF congress

    Giwa warns against NFF congress

    The factional president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chris Giwa, has restated his warning against an elective congress on Thursday in Abuja, insisting the elections had already taken place with him emerging as president of the federation.

    “It has come to the notice of the Nigeria Football Federation that some persons are spreading information to the effect that there is a Congress of NFF taking place on Thursday, 4th September, 2014. This is absolutely untrue,” africanFootball.com quoted Giwa as saying in a statement issued by NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire.

    “If there would be any NFF Congress of any nature, the notice for such would come from the NFF Secretariat. I am aware the NFF Secretariat has not issued such notice.”

    Giwa also dismissed reports that officials from world football governing body FIFA and the Confederation of African Football would be in Nigeria to witness the Congress.

    “There are no persons coming from FIFA or CAF, and there is no elective Congress because the elections had already been conducted,” he said.

    “This is to advise all the chairmen and secretaries of the State Football Associations and those of NFF’s affiliate bodies to disregard the notice.

    “We also urge the general public not to go anywhere near the venue of the gathering.”

     

  • NFF: Amadu threatened with arrest, Giwa files FIFA defence

    NFF: Amadu threatened with arrest, Giwa files FIFA defence

    The Nigeria Football Federation General Secretary, Musa Amadu, has again been threatened with arrest by security agencies if he fails to “co-operate” with the sports ministry bid to install Chris Giwa as president of the federation.

    However, Giwa has concluded plans to send his response to the World’s soccer governing body, FIFA, before Monday’s expiration of deadline given him to vacate the Glass House.

    Amadu was detained by the Directorate of State Security alongside the NFF president Aminu Maigari and the chairman of the federation’s technical committee, Chris Green, before last Tuesday’s  “kangaroo” election that produced Giwa as NFF president.

    Giwa had in a letter to FIFA said Tuesday’s elections were free and fair and as such the world football governing body should recognise him as the duly elected president of the federation, africanFootball.com reports.

    However, his defence will not be complete without the approval of Amadu, who was whisked to the congress venue by the Minister of Sports, Tamuno Danagogo.

    The factional NFF president, according to africanFootball.com, had said last Friday that his presentation will prove beyond reasonable doubt that his election received the full blessing of the 44-man congress.

    Findings however showed that only five bonafide members of the general assembly attended the meeting.

     

  • Reps summon security chiefs over Maigari’s detention

    Reps summon security chiefs over Maigari’s detention

    Nigeria’s top security chiefs have been asked by the House of Representatives to explain why Nigeria Football Federation president, Aminu Maigari was detained without any charges brought against him.

    Maigari’s detention stopped him from presiding over the NFF general assembly on Tuesday, africanFootball.com reports.

    However, the NFF president has said he would not to take any legal action for his unlawful arrest, saying God will remain his refuge.

    Several football stakeholders in Nigeria spoke at a Friday public hearing called by the House of Representatives to address the crisis.

    The chairman of the NFF technical committee, Chris Green, gave a graphic account of their harrowing experience at the anti-robbery squad cells in Abuja, where he and Maigari were kept on Tuesday.

    “It was a most dehumanising ordeal,” said Green, whose narration caused several of those attending the hearing to weep.

    Chairman of Nigeria Coaches’ Association, Bitrus Bewarang, equally produced a Plateau State White paper which indicted Chris Giwa.

    He closed his presentation by warning this revelation would put his life in danger.

  • NFF crisis: Players, managers boycott league

    NFF crisis: Players, managers boycott league

    Players and top club managers have joined a boycott of the Nigeria league just as the Nigeria Football Federation has insisted matches will be played this weekend.

    The League Management Company (LMC) announced the league has been postponed till further notice after the country’s referees said they will no longer handle matches until the crisis rocking Nigerian football is resolved.

    The country’s players’ union, APFON, has also directed its members to stay away from league matches till further notice, africanFootball.com reports.

    “The players union, after a thorough evaluation of the current situation in Nigeria football as a result of the kangaroo and purported election into the executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation held on  August 26, 2014, that brought Chris Giwa as NFF president, the players’ union hereby directs all Nigeria footballers in the various leagues to boycott all league matches with immediate effect to protest the illegality of the purported elections,” africanFootball.com quoted APFON as saying in a statement signed by its president ,Dahiru Sadi.

    However, Chris Giwa, who claims to have been elected new NFF president on Tuesday, said matches slated for this weekend will go ahead.

    “It has come to our notice that the League Management Company has been issuing notices to clubs in the Premier League that matches are being suspended from this weekend,” said Giwa.

    “This is totally untrue. If the LMC received a notice from the Nigeria Referees Association about purported withdrawal of referees, the LMC should have brought this to the notice of the NFF and not to take a decision to suspend the league on its own.”

    He expressed his unhappiness with the NRA for the threat to withdraw referees from the Premier League and said the NFF would not take the matter lightly.

  • Minister endorses Giwa-led NFF

    Minister endorses Giwa-led NFF

    Minister of Sports, Tamuno Danagogo on Thursday expressed immense confidence in the new Nigeria Football Federation’s executive committee led by Chris Giwa to take Nigerian football to new heights, africanFootball.com reports.

    Speaking during a courtesy call on him by the new NFF board, Danagogo also urged the new helmsmen to open channels of communication with all aggrieved institutions and individuals with a view to reconciling all parties and achieving lasting peace in Nigerian football.

    “I congratulate you on your election and have confidence in you to take our football to where it should be,” africanFootball.com quoted the minister as saying at the forum.

    “I have known some members of this board for several decades now, and some others for quite some time now. You are all people I can easily relate with.

    “But the challenges ahead are huge. I want you to start reaching out to all persons who have issues and discuss with them, and find amicable solution to all matters.

    “You must be ready to reconcile with all institutions and individuals of interest, such as government, FIFA, members of NFF and stakeholders.

    Speaking earlier, Giwa thanked the sports minister for his continued support for the NFF, the national teams and Nigerian football generally, and pledged that his board would work assiduously towards taking the nation’s game to a new height.

    “The truth is that the NFF has been beset by crises for a long time, for more than a decade. This new team is determined to bring these crises to an end. We will work hard towards bringing everyone together and reconciling in the interest of the Nigeria game,” he vowed.

    Present at the meeting with the minister were Giwa, NFF 1st Vice President Obinna Ogba, executive committee members Effiong Johnson, Sani Fema, Felix Amaechi Obuah and Adams Yahaya.

    There were also former Nigeria Premier League Chairman, Rumson Baribote, former NFF board member Ben Agarry, NFF assistant director (Communications) Ademola Olajire, head of International competitions Bola Oyeyode, chief legal officer, Barr. Okey Obi and the Special Assistant to the General Secretary, Christian Emeruwa.

  • Maigari, Green released

    Maigari, Green released

    The detained Nigeria Football Federation president, Aminu Maigari, was released on Wednesday along with fellow executive committee member, Chris Green, an aide told africanFootball.com

    “Maigari has been released by the security operatives. He was released in the morning by the special anti-robbery squad after he was handed to them by the Directorate of State Security Service.

    “No charges were pressed against him, neither was he or Green questioned on anything. It was clearly to prevent them from attending the Tuesday general assembly, which FIFA insisted should be presided by Maigari,” an aide of the NFF boss told africanFootball.com.

    It was also gathered that the NFF president was detained on orders of the controversial former Rivers State police commissioner, Joseph Mbu, who is now an Assistant Inspector General of Police.

    Incidentally, Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo, who was a former commissioner in Rivers State, personally came to the DSS office on Tuesday to pick the General Secretary, Musa Amadu, for what later was termed “an elective congress,” which produced Chris Giwa as new NFF president.

    Giwa moved into the NFF office Wednesday morning and thereafter addressed some staff, assuring them of improved welfare in his tenure as NFF president.

    FIFA is expected to rule on the unfolding drama in Nigeria soon.

  • NFF poll: Umeh, Odegbami, Ogunjobi out

    NFF poll: Umeh, Odegbami, Ogunjobi out

    Nigeria Football Federation acting president, Mike Umeh, has been screened out of the forthcoming elections, while Chris Giwa is unopposed for the federation’s presidency.

    According to the electoral guidelines, Giwa, who is the owner of Nigeria premier league club, Giwa FC, will automatically be the new NFF president as he is unopposed.

    Giwa’s clearance comes despite his indictment by a fact-finding committee into Plateau United when he was the club acting chairman 10 years ago, africanFootball.com reports.

    It also fuels speculations that the sports ministry has carefully orchestrated what could now be best described as an appointment.

    Also disqualified is former secretary general of the NFF, Taiwo Ogunjobi.

    Former Nigeria captain Segun Odegbami, was also not cleared for the August 26 elections to the NFF executive committee.

    NFF electoral committee chairman, Amoni Biambo, made the disclosure Wednesday in Abuja while rolling out the list of cleared candidates.

    He explained that Ogunjobi was disqualified due to his ban from all football activities, while Umeh was screened out because he picked a form for vice president and submitted same for presidency.

    For Odegbami, his form was not properly endorsed and as such was not cleared.